If you enjoy watching the rebuild of old abandoned cars that have been left to rust in the weeds this is a fun channel.

A young man and his partner in the USA who specialise in bringing apparently dead stuff back to life. He also explains some of the tests he does to check them in order prior to starting 18 year old engines. A great waste of time for 45 mins a go!

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS87-wYrvmexsLkBj0jhrnQ
454cu big block truck from the dead https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9bYoFw4uxw
Olds Cutlass from the very dead https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miwoiAmWW58

Quite why his partner takes the name Mook is a mystery to me. Where I come from its a rude nickname!

On Facebook I follow some guys in the USA and in the most time they do it in same way. Pull the car out and try a start.

But these guys are really mad. Not only have a look at their own rubbish car. When I understand right the pickup has an 7.4liter big block.
That‘s a small big block. So they had a good found. For massive steps forward and a lot of horsepower a good basic.

But to test if you got a spark in the ingnition at the open carb after some trys, that‘s fearless.

I think in the most time they rebuild the engine everytime. Usual the engines are big, are worn and doesn‘t matter how damaged (or not)
they where powerless. The Facebook guys build them up and no engine under 350hp.

Greets René